The great gig in the sky II The second episode from Coke Studio goes on air tonight. These
week's show includes performances from Ali Zafar, Shafqat Amanat Ali
Khan, Josh, Saieen Zahoor and Atif Aslam with Riyaz Ali Khan. Instep
gives you a sneak peak�
By Maheen Sabeeh
'Dastaan-e-Ishq
(Nachna Painda)'
- Ali Zafar and Baqir Abbas
Last
year Ali Zafar set Coke Studio on fire with his rendition of 'Allah
Hoo' alongside Saeen Tufail Ahmed. This year he is back at Coke Studio.
"Something changed in Ali. You could see it. After 'Allah Hoo', Ali
felt something on that floor last year," said Coke Studio co-producer
Umber Hyatt while speaking with Instep.
And if last year Ali Zafar took the first plunge, this year he has gone
all out with 'Dastaan-e-Ishq (Nachna Painda)' which Ali composed with
Baqir Abbas.
"We did the composition while the poetry is mostly Sufi but I wrote the chorus," said Ali Zafar while speaking with Instep.
This
is a different Ali Zafar, one who has been exploring folk and classical
music for the last two years and those learnings have spilled onto Coke
Studio where the focus is on our own heritage and sounds that hail from
this soil. Not surprisingly, this is a perfect musical union. And then
there is Baqir Abbas, whose flute has given this song a soft sonorous
feel that will last long after the song stops playing.
'Kinara' - Riaz Ali Khan with Atif Aslam
As
a rock song, 'Kinara' is one of the grungier tunes Atif Aslam has
composed. Off his last record, Meri Kahani, the tune goes for a
rollercoaster ride at Coke Studio where Atif joins Riyaz Ali Khan and
gives an astounding performance. For the uninformed, Riyaz Ali Khan
hails from the prestigious Sham Chaurasia Gharana and he is as lethal a
singer as it gets.
With every song at Coke
Studio, Atif Aslam is showing a different side of himself, one which is
not afraid to explore new musical dimensions. This collaboration has
plenty moments to prove this. And for whatever its worth, singing in
front of the inimitable Riyaz Ali Khan is no small feat but Atif and
Riyaz Ali Khan gel very well together.
'Toomba' - Saieen Zahoor featuring Ali Hamza on the banjo
Saieen
Zahoor is phenomenal. Those who saw him on episode one of Coke Studio
(season two) will have no doubt about his ferocious talent. And the
ones who are unaware of this man's might are in for a surprise.
'Toomba' is an original composition by Saieen Zahoor and the man is
hypnotising and majestic. Besides Coke Studio house band (under the
watchful eyes of Rohail Hyatt), Saieen Zahoor also gets musical support
from Ali Hamza of Noori on the banjo.
As Ali admitted earlier, he discovered banjo on the sets of Coke Studio
and he has taken to it. On 'Toomba', Ali Hamza strums the strings
gently and it just makes the song so much more melodic and captivating.
'Jaaney Do' - Josh
Qurram Hussain aka Q
and Rupinder Magon aka Rup flew out from Canada for Coke Studio. This
is their debut at Coke Studio and both Q and Rup have not disappointed
us. Josh are known for their fusion of bhangra with contemporary beats
but this tune is a nice change of pace from the band.
Featured on their record Kabhi, 'Jaanay Do' is a subtle ballad and Coke
Studio musicians have added more character and mood to this soulful
ditty. It is not one of the most famous songs Josh have written but it
is one of their finest and at Coke Studio this fact shines out.
'Ankhon Key Saagar' - Shafqat Amanat Ali featuring
Gul Mohammad on the sarangi
'Ankhon
Key Saagar' was 'one of the most groundbreaking songs of this decade.
It captured an entire nation by its pulse. It was and still remains the
song that introduced the classes and the masses to the magic of Shafqat
Amanat Ali Khan's voice. At Coke Studio, that magic appears once again
on a different level altogether.
"It is a sad
song. He doesn't find her in the end," says producer Rohail Hyatt about
the song. Keeping this sentiment in mind, Coke Studio has created a
song that is epic in sound and truly spectacular. 'Ankhon Key Saagar'
is a lot more heartbreaking and haunting. And Gul Mohammad's sarangi -
a multi string instrument - gives a mournful air to this song. Its
absolutely brilliant stuff.
